Backup data from Z11 RAID0 SSD drives without the PC

My SONY Z11 recently got overheating problem and sent to SONY for repair. After three months of back-and-forth phone calls, SONY decided they will not be able to get it fixed and want to offer a buy-back.

The problem is that I did not anticipate the laptop will never come back and did not back up the data. Now SONY sent me the two SSD drives (2x 256GB Samsung SSD) that were configured in RAID0 when they were in the system.

These drives uses the special connectors (not mSATA) that some of the threads mentioned. Without the Z11 chasis and its RAID controller, I have no idea how to get these two SSDs connected up to a PC and get recognized as a RAID0 so that I can take the data off. HELP!

 

Get the cables that connected the drives to the mobo's sata ports then connect to a motherboard that can support RAID0 and see if they'll work. Ask Sony if they can send you the cables... (or if they can recover the data for you). That's all i can think of right now...

 

Unfortunately the ribbon cable you're talking about is ZIF socketed on the motherboard side as well. The only possibility so far is to get another Z11 to hook your SSDs up for backup.

 

That is what I am afraid of. My Z11 is no longer available. What I do have is the Z13. But I don't think the ZIF cable works on Z13 though. How can I get a hold of a working Z11? Can't even find them as open box in any retail stores.

 

The Z11/Z13 dont have different motherboards right? However, some of the Z12/Z13 use some toshiba drives that use mSATA connectors, but some of the ones with higher capacity drives use samsung drives still. Maybe open them up to see?

 

Will opening it up void the maufactures warranty and the SONY extended warranty? I am at a junction of weighing my options. Thanks

 

Thanks. Is there a ZIF to SATA (or mSATA) cable offered by SONY?

 

of course it will void it... if they ever find out. there is no tape over the screws, nothing to tell Sony you opened it short of leaving in a screw driver .

according to this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/511578-how-replace-ssd-vaio-vpcz11-vpcz12-non-sony-ssd.html

yes. The Z12 with toshiba drives(128GB models) used mSATA cables, but the Z12's with 256GB still used samsung drives(same as Z11) so the motherboard is the same, which means you have to source the parts. You can try the manual for the Z12 linked here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/114814-sony-models-specs-support-dissassembly-links.html

try sparepartswarehouse.com or Sony Parts for Professionals (or something like that, google it ). In any case, good luck!

 

Thank you for all the tips!

 

So what did you end up doing/ decide to do?